September 4, 2007

Dear Parents,

I am extremely enthusiastic to start the school year! My name is Jorrie Brandhagen, this will be my first year at Valley View Elementary. My family moved this summer to Rapid City from Vermillion. My husband works at Meadowbrook Golf course. I have two children, my oldest will start kindergarten this fall and my youngest is two. For the past eight years I have been employed at the Elk Point-Jefferson school district, where I taught fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. I attended the University of South Dakota for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Teaching is tremendously enjoyable for me. I love to watch students learn and I enjoy watching their thought process evolve throughout the year. I am lucky enough to have a room full of computers. Technology is a wonderful tool, which I use at every chance I can. Throughout the year we will do many projects using computers, it always amazes me the ability of students and the outcome of their projects.

On the first day of school we will go through and discuss classroom expectations and rules of the classroom. As with most classroom teachers, respect is very important to me. Not only respect from the students toward me, but my respect toward each and every student that I come in contact with during the day.

Please keep in contact with me during the school year. I love hearing from parents. Feel free to call, write a note or e-mail me.

Mrs. Brandhagen

jorrie.brandhagen@k12.sd.us